Neil Finn and Paul Hester decided to form a new band during the Split Enz farewell tour 'Enz with a Bang'. Nick Seymour approached Finn during the after party for the Melbourne show and asked if he could try out for this new band. The first incarnation of the band, The Mullanes, formed in Melbourne in 1985 and also included guitarist Craig Hooper, formerly of The Reels. They secured a record contract with Capitol Records and moved to Los Angeles, at which time Hooper left the band. At the label's behest, the band changed its name to "Crowded House," which alluded to the cramped quarters the three members shared at an apartment in North Sycamore Street in West Hollywood during the recording of the album. They also invited former Split Enz keyboard player Eddie Rayner to join, and he produced the track "Can't Carry On" for the debut self-titled album. He initially joined them on tour in 1988 on keyboards, but had to leave for family reasons before he could be made a full member.
Bursting onto the international scene in 1987 with Don't Dream It's Over from the album Crowded House, the band seemed destined for greatness. However, despite eking out one more hit from the album, Something So Strong, the follow up Temple of Low Men failed to repeat its commercial success, despite critical acclaim. Radio had a hard time categorizing them, but within the industry they quickly gained a stellar reputation as "musicians' musicians", and outside the industry as one of the best live acts, featuring mixed setlists and improvisations. A set of three shows at one venue would often feature less than half the the songs being played more than once.
It wasn't until 1991's Woodface that the band hit international success again, specifically with the jointly written Finn brothers track Weather With You.
In fact, the album that emerged wasn't the one originally proposed. Neil had been working on a side project with his brother Tim Finn, a solo artist in his own right and former Split Enz frontman (in fact, several members had a history in Split Enz - Tim formed the band and Neil was responsible for their biggest hit I Got You, while Paul Hester was the drummer during their final days). When the record company rejected the material he'd composed for the third Crowded House album Neil asked his brother if he could use some of their songs in their place. Tim agreed, allegedly joking he would only do so if he could join the band. Whether or not Neil took this literally, Tim did indeed become the fourth member of Crowded House during the Woodface phase.
Whilst Weather With You became an international hit, particularly in the UK (where it was followed by smaller chart successes for Four Seasons in One Day and It's Only Natural), in the US, at least, history didn't repeat - a situation some put down to the choice of Chocolate Cake - a scathing attack on the American lifestyle - as the first single.
During touring in the UK, Tim was asked to leave the band. Mark Hart joined the band for their next album. Together Alone was a similar international success and the band even managed to score a minor hit in the US with Locked Out after it featured on the soundtrack for the Winona Ryder flick Reality Bites.
Shortly after, Paul Hester decided to leave, although he did return to record three new tracks for a Best Of... compilation, Recurring Dream. By 1996, however, Neil decided to fold the band, choosing instead to focus on a solo career. The band's final concert, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, was an emotional and memorable event, and has been captured on the DVD / CD Farewell to the World.
A B-sides compilation, entitled Afterglow, was released in 1999.
Paul Hester died tragically in 2005 when he committed suicide in Melbourne, Australia.
January 2007 brought a surprise announcement that Crowded House would be re-forming. Frontman Neil Finn once again linked up with Nick Seymour and Mark Hart and, after picking up Beck's drummer Matt Sherrod to replace Paul Hester, produced a new album entitled Time on Earth.
Members of the band include frontman and guitarist Neil Finn, bassist Nick Seymour (brother of Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour), drummer Paul Hester (1986-1994), Tim Finn (1990-91), multi-instrumentalist and Supertramp recruit Mark Hart (1993-), session drummer Peter Jones (1994-1996) and new drummer Matt Sherrod (2007-).
The Frenz web site launched a new Crowded House portal in 2007 where old and new fans of the band can keep up to date with news of new releases and tour plans.
Fingers Of Love
Crowded House Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An itch too sensitive to scratch
A light that falls through the cracks
An insect too delicate to catch?
I hear the endless murmur
Every blade of grass that shivers in the breeze
And the sound, it comes to carry me
And I can't look up
Fingers of love move down
And I can't look back
Fingers of love move down
Color is it's own reward
Color is it's own reward
The chiming of a perfect chord
Let's go jumping overboard
Into waves of joy and clarity
Your hands come out to rescue me
And I'm playing in the shallow water
Laughing while the mad dog sleeps
And I can't look up
Fingers of love move down
And I won't be helped
Fingers of love move everywhere
And there is time yet
To fall by the way
From the cradle to the grave
From the palace to the gutter
Beneath the dying rays of the sun
Lie the fingers of love
Into waves of joy and clarity
A fallen angel walked on the sea
And I'm playing in the shallow water
Laughing while the mad dog sleeps
And I can't look up
Fingers of love move down
And I won't be helped
Fingers of love move everywhere
And there is time yet
For you to find me
And all at once
Fingers of love move down
The lyrics of Crowded House's Fingers of Love are a poetic exploration of the intangible nature of emotion and the overwhelming power of love. The opening lines implore the listener to imagine the unimaginable, feeling something so intensely that it cannot be expressed through physical sensation or description. The subsequent lines evocatively use natural imagery - an insect too delicate to catch, every blade of grass shivering in the breeze - to convey the ethereal, intangible quality of emotion.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "fingers of love move down," suggests a sense of being overwhelmed and subsumed by this abstract emotion, unable to resist its all-encompassing power. The second verse expands on this theme, with the singer reveling in the joy and freedom that comes from surrendering to this emotion, and the idea that innocence and happiness can still exist in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving.
The final verse returns to the idea of being overwhelmed by love, concluding with the powerful image of falling beneath the "fingers of love" from the cradle to the grave. The overall effect of the lyrics is to create an impression of love as something at once beautiful and terrifying, something that can bring joy and sorrow, but which ultimately has the power to transcend our physical existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you imagine that
Let me ask you a question
An itch too sensitive to scratch
Something so intense that it cannot be relieved
A light that falls through the cracks
A small beam of light struggling to shine through
An insect too delicate to catch
A tiny creature that cannot be easily caught
I hear the endless murmur
I listen to the constant background noise
Every blade of grass that shivers in the breeze
Noticing the small natural movements around me
And the sound, it comes to carry me
Feeling the music's impact on my emotions
Across the land and over the sea
Traveling far and wide through the power of music
And I can't look up
I am unable to lift my head
Fingers of love move down
Love guides me towards what I need
And I can't look back
I cannot dwell on the past
Color is its own reward
Beauty is its own reward
The chiming of a perfect chord
The harmonious blending of musical notes
Let's go jumping overboard
Let's take a risk and dive in
Into waves of joy and clarity
Immersed in happiness and understanding
Your hands come out to rescue me
You save me from the troubles of the world
And I'm playing in the shallow water
I am having fun without going too deep
Laughing while the mad dog sleeps
Finding joy even in the midst of chaos
And I won't be helped
I don't want assistance
Fingers of love move everywhere
Love is present in every aspect of life
And there is time yet
There is still time
To fall by the way
The possibility of failure still exists
From the cradle to the grave
From birth to death
From the palace to the gutter
No matter status or circumstance
Beneath the dying rays of the sun
As night approaches
Lie the fingers of love
Love still prevails
A fallen angel walked on the sea
A metaphor for someone overcoming obstacles
And there is time yet
The opportunity still exists
For you to find me
For us to connect
And all at once
Suddenly
Fingers of love move down
Love brings us together
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NEIL MULLANE FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tortieville
This might be the most beautiful Crowded House song. It's a shame that songs like this don't get their just due.
Stevie Shrimpton
I remember playing 'Together Alone' for the first time. Was loving the album then this track came on...the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The beauty of the words and the melody. Just stunning. 😊
Steven Bulmer
The man is a God!
David Bush
I totally understand that feeling. I remember hearing it when it first came out. I was an adult, but a young one, deep enough in it to want something more from it. This song really brought that sensation out of me. The song is intimate
Lisa Novosel
There's just a little bit more magic in each CH song which Mark Hart is playing in.
Kevin Fisher
Mark never should have been excluded from the current incarnation of this band.
Kim Roberts
Neil Finn can do no wrong ♥️
foodknockout
Underrated tune, one of the best CH has put out
Sir André LeFae de L'inoge
Please quit these bs "underrated" comments...
mmazz30
Why does this song make a 55 y/old man tear up everytime i hear it.
I blame you Neil.....your songwriting and playing is perfection.